Understanding Sentence Correction and Modals

The original sentence is: "Even children shrink away from food thinking that they should become overweight." We need to find the most appropriate phrase to substitute the underlined segment "should become". The sentence expresses a fear or a possibility that children have regarding gaining weight.

Let's analyze the meaning of "should become" in this context. The modal verb 'should' often implies obligation, recommendation, or expected behavior. In the given sentence, children are not thinking about an obligation to become overweight; they are thinking about the possibility or fear of becoming overweight. Therefore, "should become" is not the most suitable choice here.

Analyzing the Options for Substitution

Let's look at the provided options and evaluate their appropriateness:

• Option 1: No improvement - This option suggests that the original phrase "should become" is correct. However, as discussed, "should" implies obligation or expectation, which doesn't fit the context of children fearing weight gain. Thus, this option is incorrect.
• Option 2: are become - This phrase is grammatically incorrect. The correct forms using 'are' would be "are becoming" (present continuous) or "are overweight" (present state). "Are become" is not standard English grammar.
• Option 3: were become - This phrase is also grammatically incorrect. 'Were' is a past tense form of 'to be'. "Were become" is not a valid verb construction in English.
• Option 4: might become - The modal verb 'might' is used to express possibility or uncertainty in the future. The phrase "might become" fits the context perfectly, as it conveys the children's thought that there is a possibility they could become overweight, which is why they shrink away from food. This accurately reflects the fear or potential outcome they are considering.

Determining the Best Substitution

Based on the analysis of each option, "might become" is the only grammatically correct and contextually appropriate substitute for "should become". It correctly expresses the idea of a possible future state that the children are concerned about.

Applying the Correct Substitution

Replacing "should become" with "might become" results in the sentence: "Even children shrink away from food thinking that they might become overweight." This sentence is grammatically correct and conveys the intended meaning that children fear the possibility of gaining weight.

Conclusion on Sentence Correction

The most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment "should become" is "might become", as it correctly expresses possibility or fear in the context of the sentence.

Revision Table: Understanding Modal Verbs

Modal verbs like 'should' and 'might' have different uses. Understanding these uses is key to sentence correction.

Additional Information: Common Verb Errors

Verb usage can be tricky. Here are some common errors to watch out for:

• Incorrect verb forms (e.g., "are become" instead of "are becoming" or "have become").
• Incorrect use of tenses (e.g., using past tense for a future event).
• Using the wrong modal verb (e.g., using 'should' for possibility instead of 'might' or 'may').
• Subject-verb agreement errors (though not relevant to this specific question).

Paying attention to the meaning you want to convey and the grammatical rules for verb forms and modal verbs is crucial for accurate sentence construction.